Shelf construction



Jan. 31, 1967 J. c. CRAINE 3,301,408

SHELF CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2, 1965 United States Patent O 3,301,408 SHELF CNSTRUCTIGN John C. Craine, Lombard, Ill., assignor to Advertising Metal Display Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 436,433 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-184) This invention relates to a shelf construction, and more particularly pertains to la shelf construction employing a novel divider whi-ch is slidably movable along the length of the main shelf member.

The construction hereinafter disclosed has particular application in cabinets employed in stores and manufacturing shops where a large number of dissimilar parts are openly displayed for ready accessibility to a customer or workman.

In order to facilitate display of different articles, divider means are employed which divide the shelves into separate, easily discernible sections wherein the various articles are positioned. The dividers .are normally loose and unconnected to the shelves on which disposed. As a result, the dividers frequently are jammed into adjacent wall or cabinet surfaces marring the same, or fall onto a floor which may be similarly damaged. In order to present the most pleasing appearance, loose dividers must be manually positioned so the main dividing walls are disposed at right angles to the shelf longitudinal axis. Unless a minimum amount of care is exerted in positioning the dividers, an unattractive shelf appearance results which may be detrimental if the cabinets are employed in selling to the public.

The novel dividers of the hereinafter disclosed shelf constructions may also efciently function as book ends. Ordinary book ends employed in cabinets or cases housing books, magazines, hat papers, and the like, are subject to the major disadvantage of being readily movable and separable from the shelf on which disposed. As a result, they oftentimes mar adjacent surfaces in the manner above pointed out, or are themselves damaged upon dropping accidentally from the shelves on Which disposed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel shelf construction in which divider members are movably connected to a shelf in the normal condition of use so as to be slidably movable along the shelf length with the main dividing wall portion desirably arranged transverse to the shelf longitudinal axis.

It is -a further object of this invention to provide a novel shelf construction in which dividers therefor are readily positionable in desired relation with the main shelf by merely manually sliding the same along the shelf length.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel shelf construction employing a shelf divider which may be readily pivoted into engagement with a main shelf member, but which is prevented from moving transversely to the longitudinal axis of the main shelf in its normal position of use.

The above and other objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawing and appended claim.

In one embodiment of this invention, a shelf construction is provided comprising a rectangular shelf having an elongate underlying guide portion of uniform, substantially triangular configuration. The guide portion is preferably disposed 'beneath a longitudinal edge of the main shelf. A divider adapted to slid-ably move over the upper surface of the shelf is also provided having a main vertical dividing wall portion arranged at substantially right angles to the -shelf longitudinal axis. The vertical 3,301,408 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 ICC wall is formed integrally with a base portion horizontally arranged at right angles thereto which is adapted to slidably move over the surface of the shelf.

Formed integrally with the vertical dividing wall is a vertical end Wall also arranged at right yangles to the main dividing wall and extending from the main wall in the same direction as the base portion. The end wall depends below the level -of the base portion and terminates in an edge portion extending the width of the end wall. The edge portion has a cross section enabling it to snugly receive the elongate guide portion of triangular sectional configuration disposed beneath the shelf edge.

The latter portion guides the divider in the course of its slidable movement along the length of the lshelf and prevents divider movement transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shelf, as will hereinafter be explained in greater detail.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating a cabinet employing one embodiment of a novel shelf construction made in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is la sectional View taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrates in dotted lines the slidable movability of a shelf divider along the length of a main shelf member of the shelf construction of this application; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shelf divider illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 made in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. l, fa cabinet body 10 is illustrated which may comprise a small parts cabinet for use in a machine shop, garage, or other pl-ace of manufacture, repair, or assembly. The illustrated cabinet may also be representative of a display cabinet to be found ina store and may also be representative of a bookcase construction.

Supported on the cabinet body 10 are a plurality of elongate main shelf members 12, one of which is illustrated. Each shelf 12 may be supported on the cabinet bodyby usual support means or devices which comprise no part of this invention. By way of example, each shelf 12 may be supported at opposed longitudinal end limits by inwardly projecting supporting tongues which may be spot-welded or otherwise secured to inner surface portions of the cabinet body 10, or struck or punched from opposed supporting cabinet portions, In-asmuch as a variety of shelf supporting lmeans are well known in the art and comprise no part of this invention, none is illustrated in lche drawing.

It will be most clearly seen from FIGS. l and 3 that each shelf member 12 has depending from each longitudinal edge of main shelf surface 14, edge portions or flanges 16 and 18 which are vertically disposed in the normal position of shelf use. Depending shelf edge 16, which is disposed adjacent rear cabinet Wall 20, is integrally formed with an upwardly extending terminal edge portion 22, the latter portion defining an acute angle which may be in the neighborhood of 45 degrees with depending edge 16 of the shelf 12. It will be noted that opposed longitudinal edge 18 of the shelf 12 is formed integrally with a terminal edge or flange 24, which may be substantially horizontally disposed, as illustrated.

Separately mounted on each shelf 12 is a shelf divider 26, most clearly seen in FIG. 4. Each divider possesses a vertical wall portion 28 which is adapted to perform the primary shelf-dividing function when disposed on :a main shelf member, such as illustrated shelf 12 in FIG. l. Integrally formed with vertical dividing wall 28 is horizontal base portion 30 which is adapted to rest upon shelf surface 14 and be slidably movable thereover in the normal course of being adjustably positioned. It will be noted from the figures of the drawing that base portion 30 defines an angle of substantially 90 degrees with wall portion 28.

Also formed integrally with vertical Wall portion 28 of divider 26 is a vertical end wall 32 which extends in the same direction from vertical wall 28, as does base portion 30. End wall 32 defines a right .angle at the line of juncture with vertical wall 28 `and as a result of the latter relationship, is also disposed in a plane at right angles to the base portion 30.

It will be most clearly seen from FIGS. 2 and 4 that although end `wall 32 and main dividing 'wall 218 are coextensive `at their upper end limits, end wall 32 depends below the plane of base portion 30 and terminates in an elongate edge p-ortion 32e, which is of substantially V-shaped cross-sectional configuration. Edge portion 32e is formed so as to be snugly received about the outer periphery of elongate edge 16 and terminal edge 22 of the shelf 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3.

It is apparent from FIG, 2 that when the latter shelf longitudinal edge portions are received within edge portion '32e of the divider 26, the divider is prevented from moving transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shelf 12 by virtue of the nested relationship between the mating edge portions of the shelf and the divider. However, the latter mating relationship does not prevent slidable movement of the divider 26 along the length of the shelf 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, each divider 26 may be readily positioned as desired along the length of the shelf 12 by merelypmanually urging the divider into a desired position relative to the main shelf member.

In the course of slidably moving over .shelf surface 14, the undersurface of base portion 30 will slidably engage surface 14 of the shelf. Assuming that the divider and shelf of FIG. 1 are supported in a :cabinet framework in which no back, such as back of FIG. 1 is present, the edge engagement of the shelf and divider Will prevent movement of the divider transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shelf so long as the divider base portion 30 rests upon shelf surface 14. In the cabinet construction of FIG. 1, cabinet wall 20 in addition to the mating edge engagement, tends to prevent movement of the divider member relative to the shelf member in a direction toward the illustrated cabinet wall portion 20. Adequate `space to permit insertion of the end wall 32 between shelf 12 and wall 20 must be oonsidered when providing for the support of the shelf 12 within the cabinet body 10.

If it is desired to remove the shelf divider from the main shelf member, the shelf is removed from engagement with the cabinet 10, and the divider is upwardly pivoted at edge 32e about the juncture of edge portion 16 and 22 until the divider may be readily disengaged from the shelf. In connecting the shelf divider to the shelf 12, the opposite procedure is followed and the shelf divider is pivoted downwardly :about the edges 16 and 22 of the shelf until the base portion 30 of the divider rests upon supporting base 14 of the shelf.

It should at this time be noted that the specific sectional configuration of the elongate, underlying guide defined by shelf edges 16 and 22 is not of critical importance. The configuration should be such as to yallow ready pivotal engagement between the divider and shelf :and provide the desired divider-guiding function. Replacement of the edges 16 and 22 by an elongate shelf portion of hemispherical configuration would also Work to advantage. The vertical end wall lower edge should, of course, be of such configuration as to receive the elongate guide as above explained.

The divider and shelf construction may be employed to provide a shelf member with separated sections of `any desired length. Obviously, more than one divider may be employed with each shelf member. The dividers, therefore, serve to divide a shelf into sections in which similar materials of different size or `other characteristic may be stored and be readily available, as for instance, fasteners of various sizes in a machine shop or garage.

The dividers may also be employed in display cabinets in a store wherein goods of different characteristics can be displayed side by side, while at the same time being readily accessible to the sales person or the purchasing public.

The above-described shelf construction, although composed of elements which are individually simple in design requiring `a minimum of fabricating effort, may be efficiently employed and manufactured with a minimum of expense.

The illustrated dividers may also efficiently function as book ends by utilizing a divider and an adjacent end cabinet wall surface as the opposed book-engaging surfaces, or by employing the vertical wall portions 28 alone of two spaced divider members as the book-engaging surfaces.

To provide a more decorative appearance when employed as book ends, it may be desirable to form one book end in the configuration of divider 26 of the dra-vving and the opposed book end in a configuration in which the end wall and base portions extend from the vertical wall portion in the direction opposite to tha-t 4shown in the drawing. Thus, the base portions and end walls will project in opposite directions from the interposed books. The illustrated divider 26 of FIG. l would then comprise the left-hand book end, and a divider disposed to the right of divider 26 would comprise an opposed book end in which portions corresponding to base 30 and end wall 32 would project to the right of the vertical main Wall.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the character of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, while retaining certain features which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claim.

I claim:

In a shelf construction the combination comprising a main shelf of rectilinear configuration; a shelf divider slidably movable along the length of said shelf, said divider having a base portion slidably movable over the surface of said main shelf and a vertical dividing Wall extending from one end of said base portion; said vertical dividing Wall being disposed at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of said shelf, said divider also having .an end wall disposed at right rangles to said vertical dividing wall .and extending beyond the juncture of said vertical dividing Wall and base portion, said shelf having `a depending edge portion extending along one longitudinal edge thereof Iand a terminal edge upwardly extending toward the undersurface of said shelf so as to define an elongate guide member along the length of said shelf which is uniform and upwardly divergent in cross section; connector means defining the lower end of said divider end wall; said connector means being snugly receivable yabout the outer periphery of said shelf elongate member when said divider base portion is resting upon said main shelf; said connector means preventing movement of .said divider transversely to the longitudinal axis of said shelf when disposed about said elongate member and said divider base portion is resting upon said shelf; said divider connector means being disengageable from said elongate guide member by pivotally moving said shelf divider upwardly lfrom the main shelf about said elongate guide member.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED FOREIGN PATENTS STATES PATENTS 1,158,548 6/ 1958 France.

H, 211 184 844,324 8/1960 Great Britain. Elhfffffjjjff: 2'1 I gs X 5 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Prrrrrary Examiner. Echlin 211-184 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. Metzler et a1. 211-184 W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

